Metro Bilbao goes from strength to strength

The Bilbao Metro system was opened on 11 November 1995, superseding the suburban railway line that had run along the right bank of the river Nervión since the late 19th century. Metro Bilbao was designed to be the backbone of the passenger transport system of Bizkaia, and as such to provide top-quality service based on effective, transparent resource management, a commitment to social responsibility and sustainable development and the satisfaction and involvement of people with its activities.

With that in mind, and over just a few years, Metro Bilbao has developed a network comprising two lines with 38 stations which carries 87 million passengers per year, accounting for more than half of all the journeys made by public transport in the province of Bizkaia.

The Bilbao metropolitan area has a population of approximately 900,000, and extends downstream along the banks of the River Nervión. This means that the Metro system is Y-shaped, with a central trunk running through the centre of Bilbao and branches along both sides of the river.

The right-hand branch follows the route of an earlier suburban rail line and terminates in the coastal town of Plentzia. The left-hand branch runs mostly underground through the main towns on the left bank of the River.

Space and comfort

British architect, Sir Norman Foster, won the design competition for the underground stations. The core idea of his project was to avoid any feeling of enclosure and make passengers feel just as much at ease as if they were above ground. He did this using just three elements: exposed concrete, stainless steel and glass. This resulted in stations with no dark corners or passageways, which instil a sensation of space and comfort.

Along with the originality, simplicity and effectiveness that can be found in all Foster’s work, the Metro is characterised by a skilful blend of architecture and engineering that is evident – especially in all the broad spaces created.

The design scheme also extends to the advertising hoardings, which are posted on the platforms but never in the passageways. The characteristic architecture of the system also extends to the materials chosen for displaying advertising material: glass and stainless steel frames that match the overall design of each station and are curved to follow the shape of the station caverns.

The project won the 1998 Brunel award for railway architecture for the system as a whole and for Sarriko station in particular.

Operation

Metro Bilbao is characterised above all by its service ethos. Timetables may be changed up to 70 times during the year to cater for special social, cultural or sports events. The system operates around the clock for more than 100 days in the year.

We are aware that most passengers use the Metro to get to their place of work or study, but more and more people are also using it to go to concerts, football matches and local festivities. On all these occasions, Metro Bilbao is there for them, to meet their transport needs.

Our trains travel a total of 4.4 million kilometres per year, running at an average frequency of one every 150 seconds on the central trunk line and one every 300 seconds on the branches.

Infrastructure

The Metro Bilbao network comprises 37km of double-track lines and 3km of single-track line. Sixteen of the 38 stations and part of the line are above ground.

The high service frequency and the steep slopes of up to 59mm per metre on the line necessitated the development of a major electric power supply infrastructure. The system currently has 10 substations with a total installed capacity of 134 MVA and the consumption of approximately 71 GWh per annum to meet its service requirements.

The electrification system on Line 1 comprises conventional overhead power lines with a carrier cable and two copper contact wires, while Line 2 uses a rigid catenary system throughout.

The fleet

The Metro Bilbao fleet comprises 46 vehicles with three different train models – UT500, UT550 and UT600 – all equipped with state-of-the-art rail transport technology.

All coaches are drive cars, which makes them extraordinarily effective in terms of technical performance, power, acceleration and braking. Each vehicle comprises of two half-vehicles with autonomous drive capabilities.

The four coaches which make up each vehicle are joined together in an open-plan layout with no doors or other separations between them. This means that the interior of each train is a single space, making it easier for passengers to move around and find room to stand or sit. All coaches have integral bodies made of welded stainless steel.

The main characteristics of the rolling stock are as follows:

• 4 coaches per consist, all of them drive cars
• 1 motor per axle, totalling 16 motors
• Power: 180 kW per motor, totalling 2880 kW
• Voltage: 1500 V D/C
• Vehicle length: 72.12m
• Outside width: 2.8m
• Gangway bellows between coaches
• Passenger capacity per vehicle: 458 standing, 112 seated. Total 570
• Maximum speed: 80kph

Passenger safety and security

Passenger safety and security are factored into the design of the stations and the materials used include reinforced concrete, stainless steel and tempered glass.

Trains and stations all operate under surveillance from security officers to ensure prompt assistance for anyone who needs it. Security staff are backed up by a complex system of video surveillance comprising more than 600 cameras – the footage from which is stored on digital recording equipment.

All underground stations have two entrances/exits, ensuring that even the most crowded platforms can be cleared in four minutes, and whole stations in approximately 10 minutes.

There is GSM mobile telephone cover both on and between stations throughout the Metro Bilbao network. An intercom system also permits anyone who needs to contact the station supervisor or the central control post to do so.

Traffic safety

Being a new network, Metro Bilbao is equipped throughout with the most advanced train safety systems: ATP (Automatic Train Protection) and ATO (Automatic Train Operation).

The complex operation of the system is managed, monitored and supervised from a central control post located at the corporate headquarters of the company.

This post has five basic functions, which are:

• Controlling traffic on the lines
• Managing the power supply on the network
• Remotely controlling fixed equipment (escalators, lifts, etc)
• Safety and communication (via video surveillance and detailed information)
• Platform access/exit management

Metro Bilbao has also installed an automatic sounding system to check the condition of tracks and catenary wires. This system involves equipment, video cameras and sensors installed on a train which conducts an annual inspection of the whole Metro network and provides fast, accurate diagnoses concerning its status.

Environment and sustainability

Sustainability means that the needs of the present generation should be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Metro Bilbao is almost 85% self-financing. This figure is well above that of most other European transport systems, and has been achieved because the gradual opening of more lines and stations has turned the Metro into the predominant form of public transport in metropolitan Bilbao.

In social terms, the Metro has opened up new forms of mobility for the general public with a reliable, comfortable and safe system which is closely matched to their needs.

The system is managed on the basis of the principles of equality, non-discrimination, collective rights, etc – Metro Bilbao is aware of and concerned about the needs of its employees.

From an environmental viewpoint, Metro Bilbao is helping to slow the increase in the use of private cars.

Commitments to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility form part of our corporate objectives, and are factored into our day-to-day operations at all levels as a fundamental aspect of our organisation.

The investments made by Metro Bilbao have steadily improved the environmental performance of the company, going beyond philosophical concepts and mere compliance with the requirements of law.

Metro Bilbao reached peak sustainability on 1 January 2008. Since then, power supplies for all the company’s activities have come from renewable energy sources, according to information provided by the supplying utility. This policy of contributing to sustainable development is set to continue in the coming years.

But Metro Bilbao also seeks to go further, and is assessing and considering new technologies with a view to extending the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

The energy recovery system implemented in Metro trains is worth mentioning – it activates during braking and results in energy savings of approximately 33%. Metro Bilbao is currently working with local companies on a new system which it is hoped will lead to considerably bigger savings.

Investments / new projects and future developments

In the coming years, four more stations will be incorporated into the Metro Bilbao network, bringing the total to 42 and completing the projects for Lines 1 and 2.

This year (2009) will also see the completion of work to adapt stations, signalling systems and other facilities for the incorporation of a fifth coach into Metro vehicles. This will make the Metro more comfortable, as capacity will be increased to 574 standing and 144 seated, enabling us to cover expected future needs.

I hope that this brief outline has given you a clear idea of this project, which first saw the light 14 years ago and which has focused ever since on meeting the needs of its customers. It is a project which all 660 company employees are highly enthusiastic about. We invite you to see it for yourselves on your next visit to Bilbao!